With podcasts gaining traction quite quickly in recent years, it only seems logical that more would emerge in the restaurant industry. Today we’re going to be breaking down some of the best restaurant and ghost kitchen podcasts for growing entrepreneurs. Each of the coming podcasts we’re going to discuss has not been sponsored; they’re genuinely just fantastic podcasts that we’ve found helpful.
Let's just hop right in with that out of the way, shall we?
The Best Industry Podcasts for Restaurant & Ghost Kitchen Entrepreneurs
Bonus: The Cuboh Restaurant Tech Podcast
We're trilled to say that we've launch a podcast of our own, focused on restaurant technology, operations, marketing, and more.
While we might be a bit biased, we like to think it's the #1 podcast for tech savvy restaurant and virtual kitchen operators.
Check it out on Spotify.
1. Hospitality Hangout
This is a fantastic resource for anyone in the industry. Owner or entrepreneur, chef or front of house, you’re sure to love Hospitality Hangout.
The show is run by The Restaurant Guy and The Finance Guy, two characters that have developed a cult following in recent years. Between their two sets of expertise, the hosts bring together the worlds of tech, finance, and hospitality in a way that’s really quite refreshing. You can expect to see everything from industry leaders and professionals, to marketers and communications experts, with each guest bringing a unique worldview.
If you’re a fan of “service industry humor,” it’s pretty likely that you’ll love Hospitality Hangout. You can find it on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify.
2. Tech Chef
“Tech Chef” Skip Kimpel is another growing name in the industry. With a focus on how technology can shape the future of restaurants, this is a thinking chef’s podcast. Kimpel creates a weekly menu and discusses how to best improve your business’s efficiency and profitability while keeping a relaxed discussion going.
Guests on Tech Chef have included Hooters America’s CIO Karen Bird and Ordermark CEO Alex Canter.
Find Tech Chef on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify.
3. Restaurant Unstoppable
Restaurant Unstoppable has become an industry staple in recent years, largely thanks to author Roger Beaudoin’s expertise in the restaurant industry. He’s got perhaps too many tricks up his sleeve, ranging from resources and tools to simple tips that will help any growing restaurant.
Among the guests on Restaurant Unstoppable in recent years are James Beard nominee and Iron Chef America Judge Elizabeth Blau of Las Vegas’ Honey Salt, and Cheesecake Factory EVP/Chief Culinary Officer Donald Moore. If you’re a fan of hearing what gets a podcast a James Beard nomination, tune in!
Restaurant Unstoppable can be found on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify.
4. Copper & Heat
This is a pleasingly unique restaurant podcast. Hosted by Ricardo and Kary Osuna, Copper & Heat takes a look at some of the most prominent issues in the industry. Ranging from race and gender-based inequality to mental health and the pay gap, the Osunas are hitting vital topics.
If you’re still not sold, would it convince you to learn that Copper & Heat won a James Beard award in 2019? The incredible reporting mixed with restaurant industry hot topics has created a fantastic experience, and it’s one that I highly recommend you look into.
Copper & Heat can be found on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
5. Secret Sauce
And now we make it to one of the more unique podcasts on the list - Secret Sauce focuses on the nitty-gritty of restaurant marketing and communications. Whether that means SEO, email marketing, the proper implementation of online ads, or more, this is the resource for restauranteurs who want to grow their business naturally.
This podcast is dedicated to what I like to call the “Explain Like I’m 5” (ELI5) mindset. Take highly complicated concepts, bring them to experts, and watch the experts break them down so that anyone from a fried line cook to a literal five-year-old could understand and implement these tactics.
Secret Sauce can be found on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
6. Right at the Fork
For my fellow Oregonians, Right at the Fork is a look at what makes Oregon, and more specifically the bustling town of Portland, so special. Ranging from highlighting local gems to discussing hot topics, this podcast is a genuine slice of life in the pacific northwest that hits on our favorite industry.
Right at the Fork regularly brings in guest speakers and discusses various topics, from no-tip restaurant models to local ingredients and sustainability.
You can find Right at the Fork on Apple Podcasts and Stitcher.
7. Restaurant Technology Guys
This is another niche topic for those out there who love technology. As the name would imply, The Restaurant Technology Guys talk about, well, restaurant tech! Whether that means POS systems, POS middleware, or just about anything else that holds an electrical current, it’s likely to be discussed on this podcast.
The hosts have an incredible assortment of experience, with a combined total of over 25 years in the industry. Even if you’re a line cook or new chef, this podcast has something to teach you. So tune in and learn more about the new connection that’s quickly forming between the culinary and technology worlds.
Restaurant Technology Guys can be found on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Soundcloud.
8. The Restaurant Coach
Have you ever seen shows like Bar Rescue? If you have (and enjoyed them), then The Restaurant Coach may be the podcast for you. It’s focused on discovering the largest barriers for today’s restaurant owners and providing tangible, focused efforts that can improve your success.
Host Donald Burns is highly experienced in the industry and has developed a reputation as a creator of unique programs that create genuine results. This is a fantastic resource, whether you want tools and tips or specific techniques to bring out the best in your restaurant or ghost kitchen.
The Restaurant Coach can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.
9. Smart Pizza Marketing
If you’re a former pizza monkey like me, you’ll love Smart Pizza Marketing. While the name is relatively self-explanatory, you’ll notice that host Bruce Irving knows a great deal about the industry. That’s likely due to his previous ownership of a pizzeria, but it’s also entirely possible that his current role as a marketing consultant helps a bit there, as well.
No matter how he made it where he is, Irving offers up a wide range of information to help you and your business out. Smart Pizza Marketing is a fantastic resource if you want to learn how to grow your business’s reputation and earn new customers.
You can find Smart Pizza Marketing on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Stitcher.
10. The Resilient Restaurant by MarketMan
This is a bit of a unique entry in this list. We all know that COVID upended the world of most business owners (and the rest of us, too). But MarketMan has found a way to grow his reputation while helping you amidst a global pandemic.
Enter The Resilient Restaurant - a podcast dedicated to highlighting how restaurants have made it through the pandemic and come out stronger. You’ll find tales of innovation, stories of fast action that saved a business, and more.
You can find The Resilient Restaurant on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
11. Heritage Radio Network (2-Parter)
And we’ve got one last bonus for you - okay, technically two bonuses for you. Brooklyn’s Heritage Radio Network has a wide range of shows and podcasts that discuss food and the hospitality industry. Still, there are two, in particular, that stand out - All in the Industry and Opening Soon.
The former, All in the Industry, is designed as a series of conversations with chefs, food writers, lawyers, and more. Host Shari Beyer takes a deep dive into what makes the service industry tick and does it all with a hint of love and attention that simply oozes from the show.
You can find All in the Industry on Apple Podcasts and Stitcher.
Our second surprise lies in the form of another podcast (I know, big surprise). Opening Soon is named quite aptly, focusing on the struggle of getting a restaurant up and running in this highly competitive industry. You’ll find interviews with Chefs Sean Brock, Ed Lee, and Lindsey Ofcacek discussing everything from personal wellness while cooking to mentoring new chefs.
They have a vast scope of discussion, but it all boils down to the basics of opening a truly fantastic restaurant.
You can find Opening Soon on Apple Podcasts and Stitcher.
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